Chelsea v. Arsenal 2-0 6/Feb/09

Again, again and again, Drogba, the tormentor.
[Photo: Getty Images via Soccernet]


Didier Drogba repeated his already usual dose of backfire with a brace in only twenty four minutes to ensure Wenger who are the best team in England so far. With the competition nearly over, John Terry asserted back on track after a week of impulsive and tremendous watch by media. Scrutiny was not posed just in England's ex-captain but on what could Arsenal deliver. Whether there is a tendency that enquires on the fact that Wenger's cheapness indulged arsenal chances the truth is that with current crop of players, nearly one or two new options should be brought in each line, particularly in the front and the goal.
With nearly all odds of Arsenal's title contention out, the Gunners cold focus in the least probable to win competition: the Champions League. Strangely enough a third place could be a balancing act direct rivals Liverpool next Wednesday. Another mistake at the Emirates and what appeared to be a strong position could turn into other four spot race.



Nasri struggles to shake off Wayne Bridge's best friend.
[Photo: Getty Images via Daily Mail]


The match began with a particular close-up on John Terry's armband. The midweek allegations of the drama between him and former team mate Wayne Bridge were kept aside, as Martin Tyler said in SKY Sports broadcast, "to concentrate on football". The hectic start was paired with a series of mistakes made by both teams, probably due to the atmosphere and nervousness. Among the first attempts were one deflected Nasri shot and on the other hand, Drogba's goal.
Within the short span of eight minutes the Blues were one-up when Arsenal's tormentor appeared alone in the far side of the box to finish a header by Terry. Yet, the early lead proved the Ivorian's efficiency and the terrible marking by the visitors.
The game moved on and the Gunners seemed to produce many chances, one by Arshavin denied by Cech. With the clock reaching the twenty-minute mark, the proposal was that of an open game. Despite the visitors' luck, the only
offensive threat was the little Russian playmaker -obviously he couldn't match neither of the centre-halves. Three minutes later Drogba, again, finished the game in a blistering counter-attack led by Lampard. The Ivorian easily shook off two defenders and shot past Almunia.
With fifteen minutes to go the North Londoners threw all their depleted power towards Cech's goal. The Blues did not attempt any more sizzling counters, as the siege began to wear down the twenty two players. Even when the visitors enjoyed a fair amount of possession, there was no absolutely offensive threat. The diminutive Russian battled with two centre-backs that ousted him in the physical department. Fábregas and Nasri, tried to impress a rather godsmacked and defensively brilliant Chelsea team.



Diaby, Lampard and Song in the battle.
[Photo: Getty Images via Daily Mail]


There was no pivotal change in Arsenal's display in the following half: a couple of arrivals to Cech's goal were enough to get Chelsea in their own pitch and settling for what could be another horror Drogba show. Where Arshavin and Nasri tried to make that killer pass, a wall that encompassed between five and six Chelsea players was ready to repel every effort. Utter idiot mistakes by Almunia earned the ironic cheers from the home and visitors. With half an hour to play the dismal and futile attempts from Cesc and Nasri to find Arshavin were nullified as their London counterparts were completely in control at every moment of the match.
In that same minute -60th- Nasri had one golden chance to put the Gunners right in the match: the Frenchman hesitated to shoot past Cech. After the miss, Wenger's men tried to weave, with enough success to make Terry's defence tremble. Nicklas Bendtner came back form his spell at the sidelines within minutes from the critical miss. The massive siege that Chelsea withstanded was at its most productive stage until the end of the match; the reds battered with all their might, but apparently, it was not enough.
With a couple of runs, the Ivorian right back managed to impress the crowd at the Bridge. The main problem, again, was the icing on the top. Despite the desperate attempts from the north Londoners to bring at least one goal to the game, the Russians (oops!) managed to keep each and every attempt at bay. Slowly the title was fading in the midst of the rainy London scenario. Drogba hit the crossbar as Manuel Almunia watched comfortably from Row 1. The night was over with the passing of the last minutes. The Arsenal were again comprehensively beaten by Drogba and an advanced defensive system.